Pros and Cons of Electric Cars

So, the electric cars are finally there. Some of them are being sold from dealer outlets? Some are still in the pipeline. Companies and governments are throwing billions of dollars into developing technology and infrastructure. But what about the consumer? Are we ready for the electric car?

Save Money. It is more than 5 times cheaper to drive an electric car compared to petrol cars. 

Cheaper to maintain. The electric cars have fewer things under the bonnet. Electric motor is basically two parts - stator and rotor. They are less likely to break down.

Fire Safety. There are no internal combustion engines, no explosions, no fire. If the electric car has been built properly, it is fire-safe.

Road Safety. Electric cars have a potential to better absorb crash kinetic energy. The batteries are full of liquid and it will moderate a portion of crash force.

Driveability. It is easier to drive because there's no gearbox to switch. The car has a low center of gravity which makes fast cornering easier.

History and Precedent. There has been an electric car boom in the history. During 1910s tens of companies in the USA were making and selling electric cars.

Potentially greener energy. If you where the electricity comes from (if it is a green source, not coal generated), you can possibly reduce the carbon footprint significantly.

Zero Emission Lie. Electric cars are not zero-emission vehicles. Although no emissions are produced at the tailpipe, CO2 and other baddies are emitted at the powerhouse where the energy is generated.

Infrastructure. Somebody will have to pay for installing the chargers. Who will that be?

Politics. Electric cars are sometimes being lobbied by the governments. Many politicians across the world want praise for creating new jobs and following the environmental guidelines.

Expensive. A single-seater Tango - $108,000, two-seater Tesla Roadster - $100,000, Mitsubishi i-Miev city car around $35,000.

Low range. An electric car can go for a maximum 80 miles on a single charge.

Limited source of lithium. The main material for the modern electric car battery is lithium. It is expensive and carbon-intensive to mine lithium and there is very little lithium around - when it is gone it is gone.

Driver Experience. Some people report that driving an electric car feels weird. It is however something that you can easily get accustomed to.

Non-recyclable parts. The estimate of battery life is  between 40,000 and 200,000 miles. An electric car’s life is some 7 - 8 years long. After that you get rid of it because the value of the car will be much lower than that of a brand-new lithium battery pack.

Energy Shortage. Although we keep introducing new ways to save energy, in a worldwide scope there is not enough electricity to power our homes and businesses.